Thanks for the kind words guys!  It's a real fun tune to play ... and it's fun playing outside by the trees!

kewl

Thanks Jerry - I'll check those guys out too.  

You probably know this, but Bob Margolin has made a new CD with Ann Rabson to be released next month.  My wife and I met Ann when she was in the Seattle area last year not long after Pinetop Perkins passed.  I guess he had been at her house a couple of weeks before that.  Ann has been battling cancer for the past year so I wrote to Bob to ask how she was (still fighting it but feeling okay).  I also mentioned that I was taking lessons from you. Even though Bob doesn't know me, he was very nice and wrote back to tell me about Ann.  He also had the highest praise for you.

Hi Rich,

Yeah, I loved Eddie's singing too. A really clear strong voice sometimes punctuated by that crazy squeal he could do. Horn players are a great source for not only material, but for phrasing elements as well. Besides Cleanhead, you might want to check out Red Prysock, Willis (Gatortail) Jackson, Joe Houston, Sil Austin and others.

Thanks Roger! 

Here's an example video I recorded over the weekend to give everyone an idea of what we're thinking.

Looking forward to it!!

TITLE:  Backyard Guitar Rag

@Timothy .. Great one!  I totally agree that the music captures the feeling of freedom.  I'm going to have to learn it someday.

Great idea Mike ! Should be a lot of fun.

Jerry,

Lately I've been (trying) playing along with a couple of your instrumentals that I really like - Shakin the Shack and Blues In A Dream. I would love for you do a lesson on either of those songs (or any other of yours).  

On a different note, I've been listening to (and playing along with) blues by horn players - mostly Cleanhead Vinson, but also Bill Dogett and others.  In addition to Kidney Stew which you went through here, I really like a number of Vinson's other songs, particularly Sugar, Cleanhead's Blues and Alimony Blues.  Seems to me that there is a lot to learn from horn players and how they shape their notes - am I on the right track here? Plus I like Cleanhead's singing.

Open Mic Night is in 6 days!  If you need help with your video, just let me know and I can help.  Usual enhancements I do are: reverb, warm tube, spacial separation and compression.

Open Mic Night is when we will share videos of ourselves playing our favorite tunes.  They can be songs you wrote, songs you learned here or learned somewhere else.  

The point is to relax, have fun, and enjoy each others music.  

I will be posting an example video this weekend.

Please note: Open Mic Night will happen on Sep 27th ... so please wait until then to post your video.  I will also be available to help people post videos if they need assistance.

Looking forward to it and happy to answer any questions!

Mike

okey Tony i will

Thanks Iceman. Would you say it's done often? Is it something you use significantly, throughout your playing? Your right, when you say the more stuff in the harmonica arsenal the better. I'll give it some practice. 

Tony Hollywood

Phil,

Your in good company. It's not a disadvantage at all. Check out some footage on YouTube of Sonny Terry and Paul Butterfield, you'll see them holding the harmonicas in their right hands with the base notes to their right.

Tony Hollywood

Little Wing

The playing embodied the freedom of wings, the less than technical but more than natural, style he created. 

What's your favorite song intro and why?

@ Iceman .. great stories!  Wish I was there to see them.

Hi Tony, i didnt know Sonny played that way thank you.

Hi Brandon,

I played Marine Bands for most of my career. Now I play either the Marine Band DeLuxe or the Marine Band Crossover. For someone just starting out with my Masterclass program (where you're playing it all on an "A" harp) I'd recommend the Special 20 which has a plastic comb and won't have issues with moisture absorption into the teeth of the wooden combs that are found on a standard Marine Band. The essential keys to buy in order to cover most of the material you'll encounter would be: A, Bb, C, D, F and G. Eventually, you may want them all.

The obvious thing to do is ask the band leader what key the song is in before they kick it off. If you can hear the the tonal center or root note on your own you'll have the right note in your head but still have to go through various harps playing the 2 hole draw in each one till you find the one with that note. This skill to hear the root note in your head will improve over time but you'll still have to search through a few harps. Just ask what key the next song is going to be in.

Ramster, Love Fats and got to sit in with Muddy several times when Fats was in the band. I'll have to get his recording first though. Duke

Daddy Ray, All this stuff you are mentioning is great guitar. I'll do some of these for sure! Duke

Fishnet would make a good lesson. I got that turnaround from a Jimmy Witherspoon/Jack McDuff arrangement of "I'm gonna Move To The Outskirts Of Town" Fishnet is a 13 bar blues by the way! Duke

Good luck with the show Vince. I used to blow on the strings making chords and it produces a wild sound. You have to blow really hard though and I just don't have that much wind anymore! Duke

Hi Vince, All I can suggest is using a Shubb capo. I think they are the best. Duke

Hi Vince, Ronnie is play more shows these days than he has in a while so I believe he's doing well. I will definately be on the west coast in 2013. Thanks, Duke

Thanks Iceman.  Good advice.  I think that is more or less what I tried to do, somewhat successfully.